PAST WINNERS of the 2nd(Sept) Race at Dover

RACE BONUS INFO

The NASCAR Winston Cup Leader Bonus is $30,000 at Dover for leading the points and winning the race.(Bobby Labonte last won the award, $40,000 at Darlington on Sep 3, 2000). The $340,000 annual award is paid at $10,000 per race to the point leader at the end of each event if he is also the winner. The award increases by $10,000 each week the it goes unclaimed. If the point leader is not the race winner at the end of the year, the balance of the award is distributed among the top-10 finisher in the point standings(9-17-2000)

Dover Facts: The farthest back a race winner has started at Dover Downs International Speedway is 37th
-Kyle Petty started in that position and won the 1995 Miller 500(not a provisional). The only caution-free race at Dover Downs took place in the 1971 Mason-Dixon 500, which Bobby Allison won. Ricky Rudd and Bill Elliott lead all active drivers with the most wins at Dover Downs, four. Richard Petty and Bobby Allison are tied with the most wins - seven apiece. Three drivers entered into this weekend's race got their first start at Dover: Matt Kenseth (9/20/98), started 16th-finished sixth; Bobby Labonte (6/2/91), started 33rd-finished 34th; Jimmy Spencer (6/4/89), started 20th-finished 34th.(NASCAR PR)(9-19-2000 - added Rudd 9-20-2000)

Some Dover Stats: Ten of all the 61 Dover races have been won by the pole starter - 16%. Last MBNA.com won by the pole winner: 1998, Mark Martin. Lowest start of a MBNA.com winner: 15th, 1984 by Dale Earnhardt. All Dover, 37th by Kyle Petty, 6/95. Most Dover wins: Bobby Allison, Richard Petty - 7. Active drivers, Ricky Rudd, Bill Elliott - 4. 50 of the 61 Dover races have been won from the Top 10 - 82%. Most common starting position of all Dover race winners: 1st, 2nd, 3rd -- 10 each, half of all Dover races.(TNN Motorsports)(9-22-2000)

Provisionals: There are five drivers out of provisionals after NHIS, #66-Darrell Waltrip, #44-Steve Grissom, #60-Joe Bessey, #75-Wally Dallenbach and #90-Hut Stricklin. They must make the races with speed until another provisional is allotted at Phoenix, which is five races away. But the drivers/teams without provisionals could still get into a race using a provisional - If one or a few of the teams without provisionals fail to get in on speed, then the part time teams(don't attempt all races and are deep in the OWNERS points) get a shot at the provisionals, lining up by Owners Points(only if they have owners points). If spots are still available, then the teams without provisionals or owners points get placed in the field by fastest qualifying speed until all 43 spots are filled. For more info on provisionals see my Provisionals Status and Owners Points page(9-17-2000)

RACE ODDs

QUALIFYING, PRACTICE and RESULTS news and links

Stewart wins at Dover: #20-Tony Stewart led the most laps and won at Dover in the MBNA.com 400 for his 4th win of the 2000 season and 7th career win. Stewarts win breaks the record for the lowest start of a MBNA.com 400(2nd race) winner, which had been 15th by Dale Earnhardt in 1984, Stewart started 27th. Stewart also swept the two races at Dover in 2000(7th time it has been done). #10-Johnny Benson was 2nd which ties his career best. Two drivers made their Winston Cup debuts: #97-Kurt Busch finished 18th and #85-Carl Long had a short day, finishing 41st in his 1999 Ford Taurus sponsored by Noopco. See unofficial results at NASCAR Online and Racin' Network(9-24-2000)

Happy Hour at Dover is over. #6-Mark Martin was the fastest at 153.067mph with pole sitter, #12-Jeremy Mayfield just a tick behind at 153.054mph. #85-Carl Long was the slowest at 146mph. No indicents/accidents reported. See the speeds at NASCAR Online(9-23-2000)

First Round Qualifying is over at Dover for the MBNA.com 400 Cup race. #12-Jeremy Mayfield won the pole with a speed of 159.872mph, just off the track record of 159.964mph set last year. The pole is Mayfield's third of the 2000 season and fifth career pole. If things stayed the same the two drivers who would miss the race: #60-Joe Bessey(35th in owners points but out of provisionals) and #90-Hut Stricklin(44th and out). #85-Carl Long and #44-Steve Grissom would get into the race using a twist in the provisional rules(see next story). For results see my First Round Results Chart(just something I am testing this weekend)(9-22-2000)

Almost 160mph in practice at Dover for the MBNA.com 400. #10-Johnny Benson was the fastest with a late run of 159.872mph. #12-Jeremy Mayfield was second 159.843mph. Track record is 159.964mph set by Rusty Wallace last Sept. See MBNA.com 400 Practice Speeds for the practice rundown(9-22-2000)

Qualifying Order is up for the MBNA.com 400 at Dover. See above for the link(s). #33-Joe Nemechek scheduled to go out first, #28-Ricky Rudd last. 45 cars/drivers will make an attempt. Qualifying starts at 1:30pm/et(approx after BGN qualifying) and will NOT be televised live but shown on TNN, tape delay, Sat morning at 9:00am/et. MRN radio will have live coverage(9-22-2000)

Entry List for the MBNA.com 400 is up. See the link above. 45 drivers/teams listed(for 43 spots). Joe Bessey is listed in the #60(he won a BGN race at Dover in 1997), Kurt Busch is in the #97 and Carl Long is entered in the #85 Ford(9-19-2000)

Pole Record: What is the record for the most poles in a season by one driver? In the modern era(1972 to present): Cale Yarborough had 14 poles in 31 starts(45%) during the 1980 season. The overall record was Bobby Isaac who had 20 poles in 50 starts(40%) during the 1969 season(Stock Car Racing Encyclopedia). So far in 2000, #2-Rusty Wallace has 8 in 27 races - 29.6%, that equates to approx 10 for the year, so they modern era record looks out of reach(9-22-2000)

How to break a tie during qualifying? When drivers are tied for a starting spot during qualifying, it is broken by owners points standings(not drivers). For provisionals standings see the Jayski Provisional Status page(2-20-2000)

Links: Practice speeds, qualifying and results can be found at these
sites: NASCAR Online,

TRACK/RACE NEWS

Rain: The Southern 500 was the fifth Cup race this season to be affected by rain having a two hour rain delay after 38 laps and being shortened to 328 laps instead of the 367 scheduled. Others: Las Vegas was shortened by 119 laps. Michigan fell six laps short in June. Pocono was postponed to the next day(a Monday). New Hampshire only went 273 of 300 laps in July(9-4-2000)

Track Qualifying Records fall in 2000: In 26 events there have been thirteen(13) track records set, including Bristol, California, Lowes, Michigan, Pocono, Rockingham, Texas, Las Vegas, New Hampshire(July), Sears Point, Pocono(2nd time), Indy and Michigan(2nd time). These are TRACK records, not EVENT records(of course we all know there are four races that there is no chance to break the track record, the two each at Daytona and Talladega)(9-17-2000)

How to Calculate Track Speeds: use the formula Speed = Distance divided by Time. Distance is Track Length, and Lap Time into Hours. Once hour is 3600 seconds, so the calculation for a 48 second lap at Daytona(2.5 miles) would be: Speed = 2.5 x (3600/48), = 2.5 x 75 = 187.500mph. For a 19 second lap at Bristol(.533 miles): Speed = .533 x (3600/19), = .533 x 189.474 = a speed of 100.990mph

DRIVER/TEAM NEWS

Spencer to need a sub? UPDATE: Jimmy Spencer injured his leg in the BGN race during a crash and per TNN's broadcast, Todd Bodine had been asked to sub for Spencer in the #26 BigKmart Ford in the Cup race at Dover on Sunday. No word on if it would be at the first caution with Spencer starting the car and Bodine in relief or start the #26, update laterUPDATE: Spencer was involved in a multicar accident and suffered an abrasion to his left knee and sprained left ankle. Spencer said the injuries would not cause him to miss Sunday's Cup race. Todd Bodine(2001 teammate) practiced Spencer's #Ford in Happy Hour(That's Racin')(9-23-2000)

Gordon Milestone: #24-Jeff Gordon will make his 250th NASCAR Winston Cup Series start in Sunday's MBNA.com 400 at Dover(NOL)(9-23-2000)

Four in a Row? Mark Martin will be going for his fourth straight win at the Dover fall Cup race this coming weekend(9-18-2000)

PAINT SCHEME NEWS

Dover Paint: just a few different Paint Schemes at Dover - Bill Elliott has the McFlurry scheme on the #94 Ford; and Wally Dallenbach has Dinner and a Movie/RedCell on the #75; Michael Waltrip has New Holland on the hood of the #7 Philips Chevy; MBNA is featured on the hood of #18-Bobby Labonte(9-24-20000

STATS and STUFF

Did ya know? If Bobby Labonte wins the 2000 Winston Cup Championship, he and his brother Terry, who won it in 1984 and 1996, will be the first brothers to do so in Winston Cup history. There have been two father-son pairs; Lee and Richard Petty, and Ned and Dale Jarrett(9-3-2000)

No Top 10's and 5's: #55-Kenny Wallace is the only Cup driver to make every race and not have a top-10 finish this season; as for top-5 finishes? Five drivers have made all 26 races and not have a top five, #55-Wallace, #4-Bobby Hamilton, #36-Ken Schrader, #43-John Andretti and #97-Chad Little(9-17-2000)

Manu Lap Leaders: In 7448 laps ran so far in 2000, Ford drivers have led 3819(51.3%) laps, Chevy drivers have led 2050 laps(27.5%), and Pontiac drivers have led 1579 laps(21.2%)(9-17-2000)

Top Fives: There have been 27 different Cup drivers(no new drivers added at NHIS) score a Top-5 in 2000....1999's total was 28 and 1998's total number was 27(9-17-2000)

Top Tens: There have been 37 different Cup drivers(no additions at NHIS) score a Top-10 in 2000.....1999's total was 40 and 1998's total number was 41(9-17-2000)

Lap Leader/Bonus Points: 45 drivers have led at least one Winston Cup lap in 2000(no new drivers at NHIS). All drivers who have made all the Cup races have now lead a lap in 2000. To see who has led laps and who leads in the bonus points, see my Bonus Points Leaders Page(9-17-2000)

Consecutive Starts: Dale Earnhardt has 639 consecutive Winston Cup starts, Ricky Rudd is next with 6009 followed by Rusty Wallace at 509, Ken Schrader with 479 and Mark Martin 393. Terry Labonte had 655 but sat out the 2000 Brickyard 400 to end his record streak(9-17-2000)

No Top Fives Since.... It has been a while since some drivers have had a top five finish on the Winston Cup circuit. Here are those with the longest streak of races without a top-five finish:

1999 winners who have not won in 2000: Terry Labonte, Joe Nemechek and John Andretti are the drivers who earned victories in 1999 and have not won yet in 2000. Two drivers who won in 1998 Bobby Hamilton and Ricky Rudd, have not won since(9-17-2000)

No Wins Ever.... Some regular drivers in Winston Cup who have never won a Cup race and how many starts they have:

All Time Record is Richard Petty - 18 years from 1960-1977
(9-17-2000)(info gathered using the 2000 UMI Official NASCAR Preview and Press Guide and Winston Cup Updates)

43rd Fact: Last driver to win from the 43rd starting spot was Fonty Flock at Raleigh, NC in 1953, the only other driver to do so was Johnny Mantz in the 1950 Southern 500

Provisional Starting Winners: Jeff Burton was the first driver to win from a provisional starting spot EVER at New Hampshire in 1999 and that is the farthest back any driver has won from since Kyle Petty won from 37th at Dover in June 1995(in 1995 37th was not a provisional starting spot). Bill Elliott also won from 38th spot in the 1988 Pepsi 400. In fact ALL the provisional starters for the race finished in the top 25 at NHIS(7-11-1999)UPDATE: Add Bobby Labonte as the 2nd ever provisional winners by winning the 1999 NAPA 500 at Atlanta(11-21-1999)UPDATE 2: Add Bobby Labonte as the 3rd ever provisional winners by winning the 2000 Southern 500 at Darlington(9-3-2000)

Amazing Finishes: Races won from a starting position of 35 or worse in the history of NASCAR

One owner, three winners? That's Racin' brings up a good question. When was the last time a team owner had three different drivers win in the same season? as Jack Roush has now done this year with Mark Martin, Jeff Burton and Matt Kenseth. The last to do it was Rick Hendrick in 1989 with Darrell Waltrip (six wins), Ken Schrader (one win) and Geoffrey Bodine (one win)(That's Racin') Technically, Mark Martin is listed as the owner of Kenseth's car and Robert Corn is listed as the owner on the Burton car, but all fall under the Roush Racing umbrella(5-31-2000)

Winners: So far in 2000, there have been 13 different winners in the season. 1999 was the fifth straight year that there have been 11 different winners in a season (1995-99). Every winner in 1999 was from a multi-car team. The last time a single-car team scored a victory was by Ricky Rudd at Martinsville in September 1998(NOL)(8-4-2000)